Many people have had others tell them that they are incapable of accomplishing their goals, but Vérité was able to avoid these comments by surrounding herself with people who supported her and pushed her to take risks.

Kelsey Byrne, who goes by her stage name, Vérité, is a singer who grew up in Orange County, N.Y. While she was growing up, she enjoyed playing music with her father. When she was 8 years old, she started singing on her own and her love for music only grew from there. She joined a band when she was 13 years old, and became more serious about music when she was 20 and moved to New York City to pursue her career in music.

“

I’m the only one who has to live with myself, and I have to be able to sleep with myself every night and I need to know that I’m doing what’s best for myself.””

— Vérité

“[Music is] something that I’ve always been involved in and wanted to somehow make a career,” said Vérité during a recent phone interview.

She went on to express how grateful she is for the people who encouraged her to follow her dreams. Vérité is aware that many people are put down on a daily basis by people who tell them that their dreams are not achievable, but she said, “I’m the only one who has to live with myself, and I have to be able to sleep with myself every night and I need to know that I’m doing what’s best for myself.”

She hopes that others will be able to accept this for themselves as well.

When asked what she wanted to accomplish through her music, Vérité replied by saying that she wants people to be OK with where they are in life. She said she believes life operates on a spectrum, and that it is OK to be somewhere in between because they are not the only ones still on their journey.

Speaking of somewhere in between, after years of hard work — and now 27 years old — Vérité released her debut album, “Somewhere in Between” in June.

Her first major tour begins in Philadelphia on Aug. 23, 2017, followed by a show the next night in Boston at Brighton Music Hall.

Raider Times photo / Courtesy of Eric Ryan Anderson Vérité is about to launch a major tour in support of her debut album, “Somewhere in Between.” She will be playing Brighton Music Hall on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017.

We’ve all heard the story of Peter Pan and his pirate-fighting adventures in Neverland, where fairies and mermaids are a majority of the population and pixie dust is a must. But do you know the story that inspired the adventure?

“Finding Neverland” is the story of the man behind Peter Pan. The inspiration, process, and people behind the iconic story are all depicted in this precursor to the tale.

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It follows the adventures of J.M. Barrie, the future creator of Neverland who is currently a playwright for a theatre company in London. In a bout of writer’s block, he chooses a local London park as his writer’s retreat.

During his writing session, he is ambushed on a park bench by a band of young boys absorbed in a game of pirates. Their frantically apologetic mother, Sylvia, and Barrie talk while the boys’ imaginary adventure unfolds in the park. He shows her the latest piece he’s been working on, which she states bares a striking resemblance to many of his past works. This, he realizes is the issue, and leads him on a quest for not only a new tale to tell, but also himself whom he has lost along the way.

“Finding Neverland” is a unique play in how it can fit into multiple categories due to comedic and tragic elements which combine to form a coming-of-age story. It has a little bit of everything, making it an enjoyable show for all audiences.

While the correlations between this tale and Peter Pan are apparent, they are not glaring, allowing the audience to piece it together rather than spelling it out for them.

The story itself is powerful in how it portrays the unfolding events, the actors stunningly convey the deeper meanings of the play not just through their words, but their emotions as well. The younger actors were especially impressive in their performances, their age did not hinder their rendition in the slightest. There was also a delightful, furry surprise regarding the role of Nana the nurse.

The music accompanying the play was subtle, there to only guide the journey, not lead it. The choreography and special effects were truly outstanding, the best of which came during the final song of the first act, and will absolutely blow you away, literally leaving you shaking in your boots.

The performance overall was near-flawless, with only minor annoyances. On the technical side of things, a projector was used for the multiple backgrounds used to change the scenery. This caused some issues, including unwanted shadows, a dirty-looking wall was seen through the projection, and some images were just visually unappealing.

In addition to the projector, there were some issues regarding the singing, in some instances where a song featured multiple actors it felt as though they weren’t in synch, there was a lack of chemistry between some cast members resulting in a noticeable difference in some of the numbers. However, this is the plight of live theatre, and one must remember that it is indeed just that, live.

The slight issues did not deter from the play as a whole in any way, as the emotionally powerful storyline outshone any technical difficulty.

“Finding Neverland” told an impactful tale full of laughter, heartache, and pixie dust.

What if there were a place where you never had to get older? Where there were pirates, indians, and a group of young boys who never grew up. Well in the musical “Finding Neverland” that place does exist. All you have to do is look to the sky and find the second star to the right. All of this comes from the imagination of a man named J.M. Barrie.

“Finding Neverland” is a timeless story about escaping your normal life. In a matter of minutes, the audience is transported back in time and is able to witness the creation of the boy who never grows up. You are able to watch the tale come alive on stage and see how this unforgettable story was created and the ideas that helped shape the tale.

Barrie is a playwright in London. He is at a park when he meets the Davies children and their mother, Sylvia. After playing with the Davies children he realizes that he cares deeply for the children and their mother. This, as well as other events, are the foundation of the new play that Barrie plans to write, and it is nothing like anything he has written before. As Barrie is writing the story of Peter Pan, he draws inspiration for characters from the people who surround him. Soon, the characters of Peter Pan start to come alive with their own personalities.

The musical shows how even as an adult you never truly need to grow up. That, even as an adult, there is nothing wrong with being a child at heart. That it doesn’t matter your age, you are never too old to play.

All of the actors in “Finding Neverland” were amazing. They were able to make you feel as though this was their lives, that you were back in time watching through a window of what really happened.

The set was visually pleasing. It was a simple set with each distinct area that had a set piece that let you know where the characters were. Each area looked completely different from others and was easily distinguishable. The music and the orchestra were excellent.

Overall, “Finding Neverland” was spectacular and is good for all ages. I would recommend to anyone to see how the timeless tale of Peter Pan came to be.

I myself sit enraptured by the magnificent scene unfolding before me. I can feel tears starting to form.

But these tears are of joy, not sadness, for I have been transported to Neverland, a place I haven’t visited since watching “Peter Pan” when I was younger.

“Finding Neverland,” which is playing at the Boston Opera House from August 8-20, tells the story of J.M. Barrie, the playwright behind Peter Pan, and how he found the inspiration to write the iconic story.

With the help of incredible actors and astounding technicians, director Diane Paulus is able to truly bring Mr. Barrie’s story to life. Every aspect of the show, from the detailed set pieces to the heartfelt songs with the ability to move people to tears, contribute to bringing the audience into Mr. Barrie’s world.

“Finding Neverland” allows viewers to indulge in the childlike wonder that is often lost as we get older. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to feel like a kid again, if only for one night.

The young actors performing the roles of George, Michael, Jack, and Peter, were extremely impressive. They had amazing voices, their acting was something you would expect from a very experienced performer. Their ability to know and perform many different roles was incredible.

“Finding Neverland” is based in London where J.M. Barrie writes plays for a prestigious theater that is run by Charles Frohman. The theater is losing money fast due to the fact that no one is interested in Mr. Barrie’s concepts anymore.

While being pressured to come up with a new idea for a play, Mr. Barrie meets Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and her four whimsical children, George, Michael, Jack, and Peter. The boys are constantly wrapped up in their fantasy worlds, and soon Mr. Barrie joins them on their adventures.

Peter, the oldest of the children, believes he is too old for their silly games, but, over time, Mr. Barrie convinces him that you are never too old to have a little fun. Sylvia and her boys develop a special connection with Mr. Barrie which inspires him to write a play that encourages audiences to feel young again.

After being told time and time again that he needs to write more sophisticated works, Mr. Barrie decides to take a cue from the children and write and produce something with a little magic, despite what Mr. Frohman wants for his theater.

Performing “Finding Neverland” in the Boston Opera House brings many of the actors back to when they watched shows from the same seats in the audience. On opening night, Aug. 8, a talkback occurred after the show, gathering some of the main characters from the show, plus the director, talking to audience members and reporters.

The actors who play the main characters from “Finding Neverland” explained that they were happy to be back in Boston because many of them grew up in the Greater Boston area. Christine Dwyer, who plays Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, grew up in Lynnfield, and John Davidson, who plays Charles Frohman, lived in West Bridgewater. All of the actors professed their love for the audiences of Boston, explaining how they keep their energy throughout the entire show, right up until the closing of the curtain.

“Finding Neverland” will be in Boston through Sunday, Aug. 20, so find a time to get the family together and experience this stunning performance of how the story of “Peter Pan” came to life.

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Every single pair of eyes was transported to Neverland, a place where you were a kid again and you believed anything was possible.

Neverland was a real place you could get to again, no matter what age you happened to be. The swirling glitter on stage entrapped the audience in a mystical haze of childlike wonder.

“Finding Neverland,” which is playing at the Boston Opera House through Aug. 20, 2017, is a musical that explores the backstory of the creation of Peter Pan, who was created by playwright, J.M. Barrie.

The musical provides a new insight into the timeless story of Peter Pan through new and old characters. The dazzling dance numbers made the people in the audience bob their heads to the beat and tap their feet. Classic nursery rhymes brought smiles to the faces of many, reminding people of the joys of what used to be.

It was almost as if time was reversed inside the Boston Opera House and we were all children sitting in our seats wondering what was going to happen next.

This musical is a must see for everyone with a child inside of them screaming to get out.

What do “Legally Blonde,” “Newsies,” “School of Rock,” “Groundhog Day,” “Heathers,” and “Shrek” have in common?

Mostly cult favorites, these movies have all been turned into stage musicals. Some, such as “Newsies,” have been adapted from musical movies, but many (see: the surprising “Heathers”) are completely revamped with the addition of tapping and tunes. The past 10 years have seemed a breeding ground for movies-turned-musicals, beginning with Elle Woods’s journey through Harvard Law School on the stage of Broadway’s Palace Theater in 2007.

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“Finding Neverland” is no exception to this trend. The non-musical film of the same name was released in 2004, based on the true story of playwright and author J.M. Barrie’s fatherly relationship with the Llewelyn Davies brothers, who would become his inspiration for “Peter Pan.” The musical opened on Broadway in 2015, having added romance to the friendship between the married Barrie and the boys’ widowed mother, Sylvia.

Throughout the course of the show, Barrie helps one of the boys, Peter, to use his imagination again, and, through interacting with the children, he gains the freedom to cultivate his own once more. All the while, actors, audience, stage manager, and producer wait impatiently and skeptically for J.M. Barrie’s latest play, promised to be exceptional. No one, except possibly the Llewelyn Davies family, expects what they are going to get…

“Finding Neverland” is fun-filled and adventurous, with moments of tasteful, true sadness and genuine, soaring joy. The performers of the touring company pack the stage with talent, especially Billy Harrigan Tighe, who brings us through the “real” life and imagination of J.M. Barrie with his skillful singing and acting. The child actors hold their own, effortlessly keeping up with the adults vocally and textually.

The sets are not over the top, but masterfully designed and utilized in every way. A certain park bench comes to mind in this category, as well as the entertaining use of the stage’s curtain to create a show within a show.

Anything that one might feel does not quite work in this production is overshadowed by all those components that do. Overall, “Neverland” is about making the most of each day, finding magic in everything, and not letting the soul grow old as the body does. Itlives not in the duet between love interests, but in the child-led song “We’re All Made of Stars,” which cheerily reminds its listeners that everyone matters.

It’s wonderful to know that there are good things to watch, but what’s the point in spending money to see a lengthy musical when all these movies are available to rent for $2.99, or are already part of your collection? As one of the show’s characters says of musical comedies, “Oh, please. That’s the lowest form of entertainment there is!”

It is quite possible that the whole concept of transitioning from screen to stage is a money grab aimed at a world of people who enjoy the comfort of familiar stories. But with more of these stories in the works, like “Mean Girls: The Musical,” the trend is not going away soon.

“

Finding Neverland is about making the most of each day, finding magic in everything, and not letting the soul grow old.”

If money is the reason, it does not matter. True musical theater fans know that funds are not what the medium of performance is about. What are important are the emotions and thoughts unable to be expressed through speech. Some inner experiences would sound strange if talked about out loud, no matter how relatable. Hence, a glimpse into the minds of characters through song is a perfect way to convey them.

Being in a theater full of people who love the same thing as you unifies everyone inside, even if just for the night. I know that the Boston Opera House was brought together in a very special way on opening night, Aug. 8, and the actors, as they told those at the talk-back later, could tell that this was an especially responsive crowd.

That electric symbiotic relationship between performer and audience is the magic of theater, and of “Finding Neverland.”

“Finding Neverland,” now playing at the Boston Opera House, is a hilariously entertaining production, a musical for all ages.

It is a creative take on the story behind Peter Pan, describing how Neverland’s creator, J.M. Barrie, became inspired.

Originally a serious playwright in London, Mr. Barrie struggled with issues that only adults had. He had deadlines to meet and people to satisfy. With his boss requesting him to write a new play, Mr. Barrie was stuck in a rut and uninspired. Soon after, he met a widow, Sylvia, and her four children.

Among the four children there was one who stood out, Peter. Mr. Barrie felt that Peter was trying to grow up too soon in order to protect himself from pain. Mr. Barrie then made it his mission to help the child connect with his inner self and along the way, he realized that he needed to rediscover his own personality.

The plot was heartfelt and innocent. It had the classic theme from Peter Pan that people never grow up, reminding us that all you need is a little imagination and positivity to face even the most serious challenges in life.

The charming plot was not the only good aspect of the show, the general production was wonderful, too. Every single seat of the Boston Opera House, which is a beautiful and elegant theater, was occupied by a diverse audience on opening night, Aug. 8. From teens sitting alongside their friends to families with grandparents and young children.

The show was appealing and reached out to a variety of different people. The show was both funny and emotional. Toward the end of the production, it seemed like there was not a single dry eye in the theater. Throughout the show you even got the occasional giggle with jokes that the characters made.

The soundtrack was fitting with a mixture of pleasant tunes, emotional numbers, and epic pieces. “My Imagination,” originally sung by John Legend for the soundtrack, was featured in the production to give lead actor Billy Harrigan Tighe (Mr. Barrie) an opportunity to show off his talent.

The live orchestra sounded flawless and added a finishing touch to many scenes. Additionally, the voices of all the actors and actresses were great, making it easy to love the music.

The set was attractive with interesting features. There were many moving parts and the scene switches were efficient and speedy. You could tell that a lot of time was invested into making the set perfect to give the audience an experience that leaves them in awe.

The characters were lovable but there was nothing surprising to them. With a little knowledge about Peter Pan, the plot line can be predictable. However, the production is still enjoyable because the exceptional performers and the comedic aspects bring the story to life.

There were times when the jokes might be too much of a cliché, but the show is meant to be light hearted and fun. The atmosphere is casual and kid-friendly but the production also holds deeper meaning and relevance.

This show bridges the gap between childhood and adulthood and shows us that it can be a good thing to never grow up.

Make sure to get tickets to this show while it’s still at Boston Opera House because you won’t want to miss it!

A cappella is opening yourself to something different and special, and using your voice as an instrument and as a vocalist.

The 2017 Open New England Semifinal of A Capella was a competition run by Varsity Vocals and held July 29, 2017, at Berklee College of Music. There have been more than 80 competitions around the world to help determine who will be finalists.

The International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, or ICCA, is a real-life collegiate-level a cappella competition, as in the hit movie “Pitch Perfect,” with colleges battling for the winning title.

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Women of the World won the New England semifinal and will now go on to compete in the 2017 Open finals next month at Carnegie Hall. This competition will have 10 of the best a cappella groups in the world, and they will leave it all on the stage for $25,000.

While waiting to take seats in the Berklee venue, people were buzzing with energy and excitement regarding the competition. Some had never heard of a cappella, others were superfans and betting on who would place based on past experiences at the shows.

Jim Boardman, a superfan who arrived at the venue early, expressed that he has been closely following a cappella since he was 18 years old when the Harvard Callbacks sang at his birthday. His favorite part is the no-instruments aspect, and that it is solely based on vocals.

Each group was allowed 12 minutes for its arrangement and could have up to 18 people on stage soaking in the greatness that is competing for a crowd.

Women of the World placed first, which was no surprise based on its moving performance. The four women — who are able to sing in 31 languages — sang in six during their performance. The women on stage were of four different races, and wore culturally appropriate outfits for each heritage.

Although the women spoke in other languages, their talent shined through and the whole crowd appreciated the difference. When the group was given the title, everyone on stage was extremely supportive and happy for them. The women hugged each other and it was evident that they were proud of themselves for their job well done.

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A cappella was a major part of our college experience [at Boston University], and it’s amazing.”

— HALEY CASTUERA

Similar Jones, a group from Arlington, Mass., came in second and also won two special awards. Member Mike Stevens won Outstanding Vocal Percussion for the entire set, and the group won Outstanding Arrangement for their original song, “Mercy.”

There was only one woman in this group, and her vocals with the six men gave it a feminine touch that couldn’t have been achieved with only the men. Their costumes were different colored dress shirts, and their high energy came from their connection of being together as a group for so long.

Fermata Town, which was from Somerville, Mass., and had 13 members, came in third.

The Outstanding Soloist award was given to Jessica Savage of Martini Glass for “Bottom of the River,” and her voice had the whole room in awe. Her raw talent was something truly indescribable.

The last and final award, Outstanding Choreography, was given to Birdland Avenue’s Haley Castuera and Kayla Pichichero. Birdland Avenue is a group composed of five people who met at Boston University, in the a cappella group the Treblemakers. They began with small projects with instruments, and then posted covers on YouTube of a cappella.

The day before the Open competition, this group defied odds and had a 14-hour day of rehearsal due to distance, as their sets are usually created over Google Hangouts without learning the choreography.

This group plays to each other’s strengths and never has just one soloist on a song.

“It’s much easier to know your role in a smaller group,” said member Adrienne Rube. “You’re forced to go outside of your comfort zone.”

Their advice to all groups trying to make it is to find what makes your sound unique. Castuera and Rube agree that if you don’t feel genuine in your choices, you won’t be organic and real. They take pride in their storytelling as opposed to trying to “sell” themselves to the crowd.

“We’re soaking in the moment, embracing that we’re here, and being exposed to people,” said Castuera, “A cappella was a major part of our college experience, and it’s amazing.”

Boston-area author Tom Sniegoski will be at the Boston Comic Con on Aug. 11-13, 2017, at Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

This is the 10th year of Boston Comic Con, the greatest celebration of pop culture in the city. The convention features panels, creators, but most importantly the tens of thousands of people who attend. Hard to believe that only a decade ago the massive event was just a group of guys in a church basement.

Tom Sniegoski, a Boston-area novelist and comic book author, has been there since the beginning. He has seen it gone from a small coven of guys to a weekend-long event drawing in attendees from all over. Tom’s favorite part of the convention is interacting with fans of his various works.

“I love seeing the fans,” he said. “I spend more time inside my head [when I’m working] than anyone would ever care to be there. It’s so cool to have that back and forth with the people who read your work.

“It’s the food for what you do. Yeah, you get paid, but to meet the people shilling out their money for your work, it’s amazing.”

Boston Comic Con is the best place for interaction between fans and creators. Like Tom, many big names in comics, movies, and TV attend to meet with the people who support their craft.

Another of Boston Comic Con’s biggest draw in is the cosplayers. Having gone for the past several years, I have seen the extreme measures some people go to to represent their fandom, in one case even seeing a Samurai Darth Vader and a Iron Man suit hosting all kinds of lights and gadgets.

Tom also has picked up on the extravagance of cosplay culture.

”You see a guy who’s a 10-foot robot and its like, ‘Is that what you do for a living? Do you make robots? Thats awesome!’ ”

The fans are really what make Boston Comic Con the spectacle it is. These people who come from all over to celebrate what they love for one amazing weekend in geekdom.

If you have any interest in pop culture anything, and if then you should definitely attend Boston Comic Con at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, this weekend, Aug. 11-13. See you there!